Dumping-car.



Patnted lan. 7, |902.

DUM'P'ING CAR.

(Application med Apr. 2o, 1901.1V

3 Sheets-Sheet I.

(No Model.)

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No. 690,625. Patented lah. 77 |902.

J. C. &..R. A. STURGEN DUMPING CAR.

Application med Apr. 20.1901.)

(No Model.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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,l i Wm @JWM Patented 1an. 7, |902.

J. C. G. R. A. STUBGEYN:

vIJUMPIIIG CAB.

(Application med Apr. 2o, '1901.

3 siwetsfsneez 3. v,

(No Model.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JoI-IN c. sTURcEo-N AND RALPH A. srURcEoN, onERIE, PENNSYLVANIA.`

DUMPlNc-CAR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent-.Na 690,625, dated January'7, 1902. Appnaion ned April zo. 190iI sannita. 56,633. (Nomen.)

To @all wir/m, t mctyloozwer:

Beit known that we, JOHN C. STURGEON andv RALPH A. STURGEON, citizens ofthe United States,residing at the city of Erie,in lthe county of Erieand State of Pennsylvania,have jointly invented certain new and usefulImprovement-s in Dumping-Cars; and we do hereby declare the followingtobe a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will'forming partof this specification.

This invention relates to dumping-cars, and

mbre particularly to cars provided with-oscili lating ends and centerdrop-bottom members adaptedto be opened'so as to'dump the centralportion of the load and allow the end sec- -tions to dump theremainder-of the load.

Heretofore in the construction of dumpingcars the body of the car hasbeen constructed of two oscillating sections pivote'd approximately nearthe centers thereof in the frame been made with each end pivoted attheir inner ends, so that the outer ends thereof, with the load therein,have to be lifted bodily so as to dump theircontents through an openingin the central part of the car-floor, which in practical operation ofcars of this character requires the use of powerful hoisting mechanismof a character which is impracticable t construct as a part of the car.v

The object ofvour invention is the construction of a dumping-car .havingan open box or gondola body with a substantially level door thereinthroughout its entire length, so that it can be used not only totransport dumpable material-such as coal,ores,&c.-but can with equalfacility be used to transport any other character of freight usuallytransported in open box or gondola cars. The body of this car consistssubstantially of stationary side sections,forx ning the central partthereof, voscillating end sections, the inner ends of ,which areoverlapped: by the stationary side sections, forming the central part ofthe carrbody and also adapted to be lowered below the level of thecar-Hoor for dumping the same, a central drop-floor section or sectionsbetween the inner ends of the oscillating sections for dumping thecentral portion of the 'car-body, and mechanism for locking theoscillating ends and the central drop-floor sections of the foar-body ina horizontal position. l

The construotionof this 'improved dumping-car and the mechanismthereof'are here,-

Vinaft'er fully set forth and described, and

villustrated in the accompanying drawings, in fwhichf,

.Figure l is a side View in elevation offa dumping-carembodyingourinvention. Fig. 2 is a top or plan view of the same. Fig. 3is an .end view in elevation of the same. Fig. L is a transverse sectionof the car frame rand body on the line 0c in Figs. l, 5, and 6. Fig. 5is a longitudinal section ofthe central portion thereof on the line y yin Figs. 2, 3, and fl.. Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section of the sameportion thereof on the line ,az in Figs. 2 and 4. Fig. 7 is a Yplan viewof the under side of the bottom ofthe central portion of the car.Fig.8isalongitudinalsectionofaportion Vof the end of the carand of themechanism for hoisting the outer end of the oscillating carbody sectionon the line o o in Figs. 2, 3, and 9. Fig.'9 is an en'dyiew in elevationof said mechanism. Fig. 10 is a side view in elevation of the same.

In the drawings illustrating this invention vthe side frame A of the carwepreferably makel of metal plates cut and pressed into proper shape andprovided with braces a, which are both riveted to the side sills B,which are connected by means of transverse sills C Cat the center of theframe, C C at the innerends of lthe oscillating sectionsD of thecar-body, C2 C2 at the ends of the car-frame, and at such other points(not shown) as may be deemed necessary. The oscillating end sections Dof the car-'body are each approximately about six-ifteenths of thelength of the car-body. These sections D are provided with braces d andare of sufficient width, so that the inner IOC ends thereof will movefreely up and down between the sidesA A of the car, the central portionof which form the sides of the car-body between the inner ends of theoscillating end sections D D. These sections D D are pivoted in thesides A and sills B ofthe car-frame by means of pivots d', preferably atsuch point that when loaded the inner ends thereof will when releasedautomatically drop into the positions illustrated by dotted lines inFig. l and discharge the contents thereof, and when the contents aredischarged they will automatically return to their normal positions, inwhich they are locked by means of suitable mechanism hereinafterdescribed.

In the drawings we have shown pinions E mounted on transverse shafts Eand inclosed in cases e, provided with trunnions e', suitable formounting the same upon a car-frame, as illustrated in Figs. 8, 9, and10, the upper ends of the racks F being pivoted to the under surfaces ofthe outer ends of the car-body sections D and operated bymeans ofthepinion E and the shafts E', extending through the centers ofthetrunnions e and through the sides of the car-hody,where they areprovided with ratchets f and dogs j", by means of which mechanism thesections D can be raised and lowered by hand as may be desired.

At each side of the central cross-sills C C are pivoted drop-sections GG, which occupy approximately four-fifteenths of the length of thecar-body and nearly the full width thereof and when closed and lockedinto place form portions of the central part ofthe floor of thecar-body. These sections G G', the plate H on the top of the transversesills C C, the plates H' H on the tons of the transverse sills C' C',and the plates d2, forming the iioors of the oscillating sections D ofthe car-body, taken together form a complete horizontal licor for thecar-bod y. The doors G are pivotedupon transverse rods g, so that theouter ends thereof will when released drop down into the positionillustrated in dotted lines in Figs. l and n'. For raising thesesections G G up to their normal position links I I are pivoted theretoand pivol'ed together at their lower ends, as illustrated in. Figs. 6and 7, and a chain t' extends therefrom to a transverse shaft I/,provided with a ratchet-wheel/L" and dog 'i2 on the outside of theframe, the ends of the shaft I being also squared,so that a crank orother suitable actuating mechanism can be applied thereto by, means ofwhich mechanism the sections G G can be restored. to` their normalpositions.

For locking the inner ends of the oscillating car-body sections D andthe outer ends of the doorsG in their normal positions arms J J' arepivoted bet'ween the sills C C' on transverse rods c c, which arms J Jare provided with projections j', which when in their normal positionsextend through openings c2 c3 in the sills C' C and under the ends ofthe oscillating car-body sections D and the sections G. Between the freeends of the arms J and J' there are links K K', which are pivoted upon atransverse rod r,so that when in their normal positions, as illustratedin full lines in Figs. 5 and 6, the arms J and J are held irmlyin place,and thereby the carbody sections D and the sections G are securelylocked in a horizontal position; but when the rod It is raised by thelevers L L into the position shown in dotted lines in Figs. 5 and 6 thearms J J are moved back, so as to release the sections D and thedropsections G and permit them to move downward. For operating the rod7c there are levers L L', centrally pivoted on pivots m between verticalplates M, extending between the transverse sills C and C', along thesides of the openings for the sections G, (see Figs. 5 and 7,)'and theside sills B of the car-frame. The outer ends of these levers L L arepivoted to the ends of the rods t, and their inner ends meet and arepivoted to the lower ends of vertically-moving racks N, mounted inslides ln, secured to the sides A of the car-frame. These racks N areoperated by means of gearpinions N', which intermesh therewith and aremounted on a transverse shaft n, which extends out through the sides Aof the carframe, where it is provided with a ratchetwheel n2 and a dogn3. The end of this shaft is also squared, so as to receive a crank orother actuating mechanism when desired,`so that by means of the rack Nand the levers L L the car-body sections D D and the sections G G can besimultaneously locked in a horizontal position .and in like mannerreleased as desired.

It will be observed that this carcan be used for carrying coal, ironore, or any other material which can be dumped and can with equalfacility be used for conveying any kind of freight usually shipped inordinary opentopped box-cars, as when the end sections D D and thesections G G are locked in a horizontal position the bottom of the caris fiat and suitable to receive any kind of freight therein.

In operation the dog i2 being raised from the ratchet-wheel the operatorapplies a crank to the end of the shaft n. The dog n3 being then thrownback the shaft n' is rotated and the rack N is moved downward until thelevers L L are in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 5. Thisoperates, through the links K K', to simultaneously withdraw theprojections j 7" on the arms J J' from under the ends of the oscillatingsections D D and the sections G G, which allows them to automaticallydrop into the position illustrated by the dotted lines in Fig. l anddump the load from the car. If, however, the oscillating end sections DD did not operate promptly, cranks applied to the shafts E enable theoperator to speedily raise the outer ends of the sections D D, so thatthey will dump their contents, when they will automatically return totheir normal positions, and to return the sections G G to their normalpositions it is necessary to Wind the chain up IOO IIC

States, is-

enable others skilled in the art to which it v appertains to constructand operate the saine.

We do not, however, limit ourselves .to the.

exact construction of our invention herein shown and described, as weare aware that many modifications can be made in the construction andoperating mechanism thereof without departing from the spirit of ourinvention. 1

Therefore what We claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patentof the United 1. In a dumping-car, a car-frame, a central car-bodysection oscillatin gear-bod y end sections so pivoted in the car-framethat their inner ends can drop below the plane of the central section ofthe car-body, and a dropioor section in the central car-body section,for the purpose set forth.

2. In a dumping-car, ay car-frame, a central car-body section,oscillating car-body end sections so pivoted in the car-frame that theirinner ends can drop below the plane of the central car-body section, adrop-floor section in the central car-body section, and mechanism forlocking the oscillating car-body sections and the drop-floor sections,for the purpose set forth.

3. In a dumping-car, a car-frame, a central car-body section, sideplates on the central part thereof forming the sides of the centralcar-body section, end car-body sections so pivoted in the car-frame thattheir inner ends are overlapped by the side plates thereon and can bedropped below the level of the central car-body section, drop-floorsections in the central car-body section, and mechanism adapted to lockthe oscillating car-body end sections and the drop-floor sections in ahorizontal position, for the purpose set forth.

4. Inadumpingcar,acarframe,sideplates on the central part thereof, acentral car-body floor-section between said side plates, a dropiloorsection therein, oscillating car-body sections so pivoted in thecar-frame that when t in their normal positions the floors thereof aresubstantially on the same plane with the central car-floor section, andmechanism for locking the oscillating car-body sections and thedrop-floor section of the central portion of the car-body floor insubstantially a horizontal position, for the purpose set forth.

5. 'In adumping-car,acar-frame,side plates on the central part thereof,a horizontal central car-body floor-section between said side plates,drop-Hoor sections therein, oscillating car-body end sections so pivotedin the carframe that when in theirnormally horizontal positions, thefloors thereof are substantially on'a horizontal plane'with the centralcarfloor section., mechanism for locking saidend sections and saiddrop-floor sections in their normally horizontal positions, andreleasing them so that the winner ends of the oscillating car-bodysections and the free ends ofthe drop-flooi-.sections will drop belowthe Hoor of the car-body, for the purpose set forth.

6. In a dumping-car, side plates forming part of the car-frame and thecentral portion c fthe sides of the car-body, oscillatingdumping-sections centrally pivoted in the car-frame so that the innerends thereof are adapted to tip downward, transverse strips of permanentcar-body floor, at the inner ends of saidoscillating sections, atransverse strip of permanent car-body floor, in the center of the car,and drop-sections between said strips of permanent floor-plate, for thepurpose set forth.

- 7. In a dumping-car, side plates forming part of the car-frame and thecentral portions of the sides of the car-body, oscillatingdumping-sections pivoted between the side plates, so that the inner endsthereof are overlapped by the portions of the side plates forming thecentral part of the car-body, transverse strips of permanent car-bodylloorat the inner ends of the oscillating sections, a transverse stripof permanent car-body floor at the'center of the car, drop-sectionsbetween said strips of permanent floor-plate, mechanism for locking saiddumping-sections and said drop-sections in a horizontal position and forreleasing the same, for the purpose set forth.

S. In a dumpingcar,a car-frame comprised substantially of longitudinaland transverse sills and side plates, oscillating dumping-sectionspivoted between the side plates of said frame, transverse strips ofpermanent carfloor at the inner ends of the oscillating slections, atransverse strip of permanent carbody floor at the center of the car,drop-sec-4 tions hinged at the sides of the central strip of permanentcar-body floor so that the free ends thereof close np to the edges ofthe strips of permanent car-b0dy iloor at the inner ends of theoscillating sections, and mechanism u ndersaid strips of permanentcar-body floor for locking and releasing the inner ends of saidoscillating sections and the free ends of the drop-sections, for thepurpose set forth.

9. In a dumping-car comprising substantially a frame, side plates, and afloor-section forming the central part of the car-body, a hingeddrop-floor section therein, oscillating car-body end sections pivoted inthe frame, locking mechanism adapted to lock the inner ends of theoscillating sections and the free ends of the hinged drop-floor sectionin a horiv IOO IIO

IZO

cillating car-body end sections and the free ends of the hinged centraldrop-sections, and shaft-and-link mechanism for operating said lockingmechanism, forthe purpose set forth.

l1. In a dumping-car comprising a carframe, oscillating car-body endsections and hinged central drop-floor sections mounted in said frame,locking-arms mounted in said frame between the inner ends of theoscillating carbody end sections, and the free ends of the hingedcentral drop-floor sections, and shaft-and-link mechanism for operatingsaid locking-arms, for the purpose set forth.

12. In a dumping-car comprising a earframe, oscillating car-body endsections and hinged central drop-floor sections mounted in said frame,locking-arms mounted in said frame between the inner ends of theoscillating carbody end sections and the free ends of the hinged centraldrop-floor sections,shaft and-link mechanism for operating saidlockingsarms, and mechanism for closing said hinged drop-sections,forthe purpose set forth.

13. In a dumpingcar comprising a carframe, oscillating-.Carmody endsections and hinged central drop-Hoor sections mounted in said frame,locking-arms mounted in said frame between the inner ends of theoscillating car-body end sections and the free-ends of the hingeddrop-floor sections, transverse shafts between the free ends of thelockingarms and operatively connected therewith,an actuatingshaftcentrally mounted in said frame and operatively connected with andadapted to simultaneously actuate the transverse shafts operating thelocking-arms, for the purpose set forth.

14. In a dumping-car, a car-frame com prised of longitudinal andtransverse sills, and side plates forming the central portions of thecar-body, oscillating dumping-sections forming the end portions of thecar-bodypivoted between said plates so as to overlap them, and form acontinuous car-body, permanent transverse car-body floor-sections at theinner ends of the oscillating sections, a permanent transverse car-bodyHoor-section at the center of the car, drop-floor sections hinged at thecenter floor-section so that their free ends will meet the otherpermanent floor-sections, mechanism under the licor-sections between theinner ends ot' the oscillating sections and the free ends of thedrop-Hoor sections for locking the same in a horizontal position, levermechanism for operating said locking mechanism, mechanism for raisingsaid drop-floor sections into a horizontal position, and mechanism forraising and lowering the ends of the oscillating car-body sections, forthe purpose and substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof we aflix our signatures in presence of twowitnesses.

JOHN C. STURGEON. v RALPH A. STURGEON.

Witnesses:

H. M. STURGEON, F. J. BAssE'rT.

